Coin reset time period control device



May 8, 1934. NEHLs I com RESET TIME PERIOD CONTROL DEVICE Filed Dec. 4,"1931 Patented May 8, i934 Herbert Nehla, Hawthorne, N. 1.1mm. to

Landll & land Gyr, A-G., a co poration of swltler Application December4,1931, Serial No. 578,905

' s Claims. (01. 194-9) i and attained by means of the instrumentalitiesand combinations :pointed out in the appended claims. 7

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and im-.

- lI provements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrates two embodiments of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of 9.0 the invention.

Of the drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the presentpreferred embodimentof the invention.-

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the accumulated reserve register inelevation.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryview, -partly in section,

showing a modification of the invention.

The present invention provides a coin reset automatically operatingtime-period control over the use of energy-consuming devices such aselectrical refrigerators, ranges, washing machines, and other domesticutilities. By my invention such energy-consuming devices may beinstalled on a rental-basis or installment plan requiring the deposit ofa relatively small amount each day. and failing such deposit, the powernormally supplied to such devices is automatically cut off by,

the control device. Where such energy-consunbschedule requirements toconstitute an'accumulated reserve permitting proportionately longercontinued use of the device, and in connection therewith, a register forindicating the amount of such reserve. Additional coins may be insertedat will, up to the capacity'of the control device, irrespective of thephases or runningof the control device.

In certain of its aspects the present invention is an improvement uponmy pending application, Serial No. 566,053, filed September 30, 1931,although in other respects it is not so limited and is capable of wideand general application.

In the illustrative and exemplary embodiment of the invention, aspring-actuated switch is provided in the power circuit and controlsboth the energy consuming device as well as an electrically-driventime-measuring motor. A screwthreaded shaft is driven in one directionby means of said time-measuring motor through a friction clutch, andthis shaft is reversely rotated a predetermined amount, such as onerevolution, each time a coin is inserted in the coinreleased knob.Normally, the coin-released knob is disengaged from the shaft and theshaft is free to rotate solely under influence of the timemeasuringmotor. Mounted on the screw-, threaded shaft and adapted to be movedtherealong as the shaft is rotated, is a switch-operating member, andwhen this member has been. moved to one extreme end of the shaft,indicating an exhaustion of the coin reserve, the switch is opened bysaid member and interrupts the supply of energy to the energy-consumingutility. The use of the energy consuming device may thereafter beregained only by the insertion of additional coins, resulting in areverse axial movement of the switch operating member. A register isalso provided for indicating the amount of coins constituting theaccumulated or unappropriated reserve, and this register is preferablydriven 'directly from the screwthreaded shaft by the coin-release knoband in opposite direction by the time-measuring motor. A second registermay also be provided and is driven solely by the coin-released knob toindicate the total value of the coins which have deposited, that is, theamount which the ,con-

the

bodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanyingdrawing, the timemeasuring motor comprises a synchronous, or othersubstantially constant speed, motor 10 having a rotor 11 which isconnected in driving relation with gear 12 by means of gearing 13, thegear ratio being such that the gear 12 is rotated one revolution eachday or other convenient period. Gear 12 is rotatably mounted at one endof a screw-threaded shaft 14 and is coupled thereto by means offrictionclutch 15. Screwthreaded shaft 14 is formed with a relatively coarsethread of sufficient length to provide for a relatively large number (20to 30) of threads. Mounted on said shaft and axially movable therealongas the shaft rotates, is a weighted rider 16 provided near its upper endwith a correspondingly threaded portion, and held by gravity in theposition shown in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for rotating screw-threaded shaft 14 in a directionopposite to the direction in which it is moved by the time-measuringmotor, and these means comprise a coin-recognizing device, such as acoin-released knob, by which the shaft 14 may be rotated a fullrevolution or other predetermined amount for each coin deposited. Asembodied, the coin-released knob is of conventional construction andcomprises a hand grip portion 18 connected with a rotatable shell 19,slotted at 20 to receive the coins of predetermined value, and normallyheld against rotation by a locking mechanism. This knob is released andcan be rotated through a one-half revolution by the insertion of a coinof predetermined value in one of the slots 20, and on completion of thehalf revolution the coin is discharged through the opening 21 into acoinreceiving receptacle (not shown). Connected with the shell 19 andadapted to be rotated by rotation of the knob, is a blade 22 receivedwith-' in the slotted end, of shaft 23. On shaft 23 is fixed a gear 24,having a pair of diametrically opposed mutilated portions 25 normallypositioned adjacent to the gears driven by gear 24.

On rotation of the knob 18 andgear 24, gear 26 fixed on screw-threadedshaft 14 is rotated a complete revolution for each one-half revolutionof the gear 24.

The current control means for interrupting the supply of current to theenergy-consuming utility as well as the time-measuring motor, connectedin parallel, comprises a pair of spacedapart contacts 30, insulated fromeach other and adapted to be closed by meansof a movable knife blade 31operatively connected to shaft 32 H and moved thereby. Shaft 32 extendsparallel to screw-threaded shaft 14, and at one end is provided with apair of angularly-disposed levers 33 and 34, one of, which is normallyin an upright position. Lever 33 constitutes the switchopening leverwhile lever 34 serves to turn shaft -32 to close the switch.

' The-operation of the control device is wholly independent of theoperation of the utility, although by suitable connection this conditionmight be altered if that were necessary or desirable.

Means are provided for operating the switch when all of the depositedcoins have been appropriated, thereby interrupting the supply of currentto the utility device. As embodied, rider 16 is provided with aforwardly-extending pin 36, and a lug 3'7. Gear 26 is also provided witha pin 38 extending rearwardly and adapted to be moved into contact withlug 3'7 at such time as all of the coins have been appropriated. Lug 37is offset and as rider 16 is moved forwardly by the time-measuringmotor, it is positioned at one side of pin 3'7. On continued rotation ofshaft 14 and gear 26 carrying pin 38, pin 38 is moved into engagementwith lug 3'7 and causes a slight rotation of rider 16 against gravity.This rotation of rider 16 also moves pin 36 into contact with lever 33,rotating shaft 32 to open the switch, at the same time raising lever 34into a position 9- where it will be engaged by a shorter pin 40 on gear26 by reverse rotation of the shaft 14. When the consumer releases knob18 by the insertion of coins and rotates said knob, gear 26 is rotatedto move the rider 16 in a reverse direction, at the same time moving pin40 into engagement with lever 34 to preliminarily close the-switch.

For indicating the accumulated reserve of unappropriat'ed coins, shaft14 isprovided with a' forwardly-extending portion 45lon: which is fixed166 pinion 46 to drive disc 47 through reduction gearing 48. Disc 47 isprovided with a'row: of consecutive numbers near its circumference, andone of these numbers is visible through an aperture 49 in the casing 50.As shown, the gear ratio 116 between shaft 14 and disc 4'7 istwenty-to-one, and correspondingly twenty consecutive numbers .areprovided on the disc. Disc 4'7 is preferably so positioned that thenumeral zero is visible through opening 49 when there is no accumulatedreserve and the switch is open. On insertion of coins inthe knob, and byturning the knob,

.the disc is advanced by one numeral for each coin, and likewise thedisc is reversely moved by the running of the time-measuring motor. 120Means are also provided-for indicating the total number of coins whichhave been deposited in the control device, thereby giving the consumer acurrent indication'of the number of coins or the amount of money he hasdeposited, applicable towards the purchase price of the utilitydevioe.

As embodied, a pinion 51 is provided adjacent to gear .24and-diametrically opposite gear 26, and normally out of. drivingrelation with the gear 24 due to the position of the mutilated portion25. Gear 51 is connected with a totalizing register 52, and is rotatedone complete revolution for each half revolution of the gear 24.Register 52 may be of any desired or-convenient construction, but asembodied, indicates the total value of the coins deposited.

In accordance with the modified embodimentof the invention, illustratedin Figure 5 of the drawing the switch comprises a toggle, snap. switch'70 normally held in closed position by means of a compression spring'71, compressed between the actuating lever '12 and a bar '73 secured toone end of the switch box. Means are providedfor opening the switch uponexhaustion of the coin reserve and for this purpose rider 14,5 16' isprovided and is axially movable along screwthreaded shaft 14, as in theprevious embodiment.

At its lower end, rider 16' is provided with a forwardly-extendingforked portion adapted to engage the operating lever 72 between itsdivergent 15a sides, and is so positioned on shaft 14 that the openingof the switch coincides with exhaustion of the coin reserve. In otherrespects the construction and operation of this embodiment may be thesame as that previously described.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1".A prepayment time-control for energy-consuming devices including incombination a timemeasuring motor, a threaded shaft driven slowlythereby, a threaded member to be moved by and axially of the shaft, aswitch to be operated by movement of said member to one position, meansfor reversely moving said shaft including a mutilated gear.

' 2. A prepayment time-control for energy-consuming devices including incombination a timemeasuring motor, a shaft driven slowly thereby througha friction coupling, a member axially movable on said shaft, a switch tobe operated by said member when moved to one position, and means formoving said member reversely and normally disconnected from said shaft.

3. A prepayment time-control for energy-consuming devices including incombination a timemeasuring motor, a shaft driven slowly thereby througha friction coupling, a member axially movable on said shaft, a switch tobe operated by said member when moved to one position, and means forreversely moving said member to close said switch.

4. A prepayment time-control for energy-consuming devices including incombination a timemeasuring motor, a shaft driven slowly thereby througha friction coupling, a member axially movable on said shaft, 9. switchto be operated by said member when moved to one position, and means forreversely moving said member to close said switch and connected to saidmember by means including a mutilated gear normally maintained out ofoperative connection with said shaft.

5. A prepayment time-control for energy-consuming devices including incombination a timemeasuring motor, a shaft driven slowly thereby througha friction coupling, a member axially movable on said shaft, a switch tobe operated by said member when moved to one position, a member forreversely moving said member to close said switch and connected to saidshaft by means including a normally disconnected coupling.

6. A prepayment time-control for energy-consuming devices including incombination a timemeasuring motor, a shaft driven slowly thereby througha releasable coupling, a weighted member axially movable on said shaft,9. switch to be operated by said member in moving to and from oneposition, a member for reversely moving said member to close said switchand-connectible for' moving said weighted member.

HERBERT NEHLS.

